GAUHATI HIGH COURT
U.B.Saha, J.
Ratan Lal Banik -Appellant
Versus
State of Tripura -Resopndent
Crl. Ptn. No. 21 of 2011
Decided On : 09-12-2011
Indian Penal Code, 1860 - section 354 – Criminal Procedure Code - section 482 – Harassment – FIR - Petitioner illegally entered into his house and kicked door said room and kept shouted his wife open door - When wife informant opened door accused petitioner entered into room and embraced his wife and started scuffling - Somehow his wife could set her free and thereafter started shouting which the informant (PW1) returned to his house and detained accused petitioner - Villagers also assembled there and found accused petitioner there Ultimately accused petitioner was released by the informant (PW1) as village elders promised to him that they would settle the matter through Panchayat –Held, Instant case as accused petitioner doubted regarding intention of court it would be proper on part of court remove said doubt in interest of justice so that accused petitioner can feel that court has provided all opportunity to him to prove his innocence relating to incriminating circumstances against him - If really petitioner stated his defense case and same was not recorded by trial court then that would undoubtedly cause prejudice to accused petitioner - Petitioner afresh way putting all circumstances appearing against accused petitioner for enabling him explain incriminating circumstances including his defense case providing him all opportunities adduce evidence if any and he so wishes his defense - It is further directed trial court upon receipt of copy of this judgment shall issue notice upon accused petitioner he can appear before trial court for examining afresh trial court shall proceed with trial from stage of recording statement accused petitioner aforesaid direction made considering trial has not yet been complete – Petition disposed
2. Heard Mr. S. Kar Bhowmik, learned counsel appearing for the accused petitioner and Mr. R.C. Debnath, learned P.P., In-charge of the case.
3. As agreed to by the learned counsel for the parties, the matter is taken for disposal at the admission stage.
4. The factual matrix of the case is as under :
On 7.10.2009, one Sri Samir Ranjan Ghosh (PW1), lodged a written ejahar to the Officer In-charge, Kamalpur P.S. stating, inter alia, that on 3.10.2009 at around 10 p.m. when he went to his mother's homestead hut for taking Prasad of Laxmipuja keeping his wife alone in the room, at that time, the petitioner illegally entered into his house and kicked the door of the said room and kept shouted to his wife to open the door. When the wife (PW2) of the informant opened the door, the accused petitioner entered into the room and embraced his wife and started scuffling. Somehow his wife could set her free and thereafter started shouting to which the informant (PW1) returned to his house and detained the accused petitioner. Villagers also assembled there and found the accused petitioner there. Ultimately, the accused petitioner was released by the informant (PW1) as the village elders promised to him that they would settle the matter through Panchayat.
5. After completion of the investigation, the I.O of the case submitted charge sheet against the petitioner under section 448/356, IPC and the case being renumbered as GR case No. 259 of 2009 was placed for trial. During trial, charge was framed against the petitioner under section 354, IPC and the petitioner being asked by the trial court pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried.
6. During the trial, the prosecution examined as many as twelve witnesses including the I.O. It appears from the trend of the cross-examination that the defence case of the accused petitioner before the trial court was that he was falsely implicated in the case. The further case of the petitioner is that the prosecution witness, PW2, wife of PW2 (alleged victim) and her husband, PW1, the informant, PW4, Biplab Ghosh, brother in law of PW2, and PW7, Tapan Ghosh, another brother in law of PW2 were workers in the rubber plantation of the petitioner and they were regularly stealing latex from the plantation of the petitioner. And on 29.9.2009, the aforesaid prosecution witnesses were caught red handed while stealing latex from the rubber garden of the petitioner and in this regard, a village meeting was held on 30.9.2009 presided over by the Panchayat Member, Smt. Rita Ghosh and the aforesaid prosecution witnesses were called in the meeting, but they did not come in the meeting. Hence, the next meeting was fixed on 10.10.2009 by the villagers after preparing a written resolution of the meeting dated 30.9.2009. Getting the aforesaid information of the meeting, the informant (PW1) filed the instant case against the accused petitioner on 7.10.2004.
7. Further defence case of the petitioner is that on the night of Laxmipuja, the son of PW1 and 2, namely, Pinku was caught red handed by the petitioner while stealing coconut from the trees of the petitioner and Pinku was detained by the petitioner. Thereafter, PW1 and 2, i.e., th
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.